Improvement in vacuum amalgamating apparatus



J; ABSTERDAM. Vacuum Amalgamating Apparatus.

Patented Nov. 25, I879.

m wiw J W km 1 I -PETERS. PNQTO-LITHCGRAPNER, WASHINGT UNITED STATEs TETOFFICE.

JOHN ABSTERDAM, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN VACUUM AMALGAIVIATING APP ARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 221,990, dated November25, 1879 application filed October 22, 1879.

T 0 all whom it may concern! Be it known that I, JOHN ABSTERDAM, of thecity, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Vacuum Amalgamating Apparatus, which improvement is fullyset forth in the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l representsa plan or topview ofmy apparatus. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. 7

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to that class of amalgamating apparatus in whichthe pulverized ore or sand travels through one or moreamalgamatiug-boxes under exhaust, and where the amalgamation issometimes assisted by first commingling the ore and mercury into a pulpor slime, and drawing the same through a channel and amalgamatingchambers or boxes under exhaust.

The invention consists in the combination, in an amal gamatin gapparatus, of one or more amalgamating-boxes provided with deflectors,connected with an ore supply by a suitable passage-way, a liquid trap orwasher connected with the am algamating box or boxes, and exhaustmechanism connected with said trap 9r washer in such manner that whensaid exhaust is operated an ore-pulp supplied to the amalgamatin g boxor boxes will be drawn through said box or boxes and trap or washer, andthe precious metal in said pulp will be brought into intimate contactwith am algamatin g devices or material in said box or boxes and trap,and retained thereby, while the worthless and non-metallic portion ofthe pulp will be carried off and discharged. The pulp may be, if it isfound desirable, delivered by the exhaust mechanism into a final washer,in which any of the amalgamatin g material drawn through the exhaustmechanism will settle and may be recovered.

The letter A designates an amalgamatingmill, consisting in this exampleof two run of stones, a, a, arranged in a circular trough, b and B is acoil of pipe extending from the mill. This coil B has a connection withthe mill A at two opposite points, as shown, and it is provided with avalve, 0. The letter O designates a box or chest joined to the tail endof the coil B, so that this box connects with the mill A by means of thecoil. In lieu of this arrangement, however, the box 0 may be providedwith a hopper, d.

The box 0 is constructed with a series of partitions or projections, D,which run transverse] y to such box and terminate above the bottomthereof, the same being in this example shaped with a semicircularcrosssection.

The letter E designates a secondary box or chest, connecting with thebox 0 by a pipe, f. This box E contains a series of plates, G, which arecorrugated and separated from each other, as by ribs arranged betweenthem, so as to divide the box E into a series of undulating channels asclearly shown. Theplates G are amalgamated in any usual or suitablemanner.

The letter H designates a liquid trap or washer, connecting with the boxE by a pipe, g. This pipe 9 extends into the trap H, and terminates ashort distance above the bottom thereof, while froma point near the topof the trap extends a pipe, i. This pipe'ihas-a valve, 02,, and connectswith an air-exhauster, I, which in turn connects with a washer, J Theexhauster I has a steam-inlet valve, (1, and a cock, 1", for supplyingthe washer with water, and it operates in a well-known manner.

The two boxes 0 E and the trap H are, respectively, provided with asteam-jacket, j, and a thermometer, 70, also with a cup, Z, for

supplying the same with mercury. The box 0, moreover, is provided with avacuum-gage, m, and a cock, 8, Fig. 1, while the trap 11 has two cocks,0 1), one at'the top and the other at the bottom thereof.

In applying my apparatus to use I introduce suitable quantities ofmercury into the box (l and the trap H. I also fill the box E with asuitable number of the corrugated amalgamated plates G, and make the twoboxes and the trap air-tight by means of their covers.

I now introduce the comminuted ore and mercury, mixed with a sufticientquantity of water to convert the same into a pulp or slime, into themill A, then open the valve of the coil B and that of the suction-pipei, and start the exhauster I. The suction caused by the steam rushin gthrough the exhauster I creates'a vacuum through the pipe g in the boxE, through the pipe f in the box 0, and through the coilB in the mill.By this means the pulp is drawn from the mill A and travels through thecoil 13, the boxes G E, and the trap H, whence it enters the exhausterI, and is thereby forced into the washer J, so as to pass ott with thewater. During this operation I allow a suitable flow of water into thetrap H through the cock 0, and into the washer J through the cock 1".

The pulp in passing through the box 0 is compelled to take a circuitousor zigzag course by the partitions D, and thus flows through the mercuryin such box, thereby depositing therein the mercury or amalgam enteringat the mill A, or a portion thereof. In its passage through the box Ethe pulp is spread and brought into intimate contact with the corrugatedamalgamated plates Gr, whereby it is deprived of the remaining portionof its precious metal. At the same time, if any of the precious metalshould then remain in the pulp it is deposited in the passage of thepulp through the trap or washer H. If any mercury should happen to beblown with the pulp into the washer J it collects on the bottom thereof,and may be drawn 05 by a suitable waste-cock.

The mercury or amalgam is withdrawn from the box 0 by the cock 8, andfrom the trap H by the cock 10, while the amalgamated plates are removedthrough the top of the box E, the precious metal being thereuponseparated from the mercury and the plates in any usual or suitablemanner. introduced into the box 0 and the trap H, and fresh amalgamatedplates substituted for the ones removed from the box IE, when theoperation may be continued at pleasure.

When the ores to be treated do not require the use of the amalgamatingmill A and coil B, I introduce the comminuted ore directly into the box0 by the hopper (I, the operation being then substantially the same aswhen the mill and coil are used; I11 this case the ore may be introducedin a wet or dry state, and

when wet the water may be mixed therewith 1n the hopper d, or in someother mixing-vessel connected with the hopper. The office of the coil Bis to bring the mercury mixed with the ore in the mill A-into intimatecontact therewith.

When the ores to be treated do not require the use of the amalgamatedplates G as such, I supply the box E with mercury, leaving the platestherein, so that the action of this box is similar to that of the box 0.The object of using the plates G in this case is simply to Fresh mercuryis thendivide the box E into a number of thin undulatingchannels,thereby bringing the ore into intimate contact with the mercury in thebox. The mercury is drawn off from the box E by a cock, t, Fig. 1.

When the ores to be treated consist of powdered quartz containing gold,or gold and silver, one of the boxes 0 E is sufficient, particularly ifthe quantity of ore is not very large. On the other hand, the number ofamalgamating-boxes may be multiplied, so as to form what may be termedan amalgamating-train, the whole being connected to a common trap andwasher.

I always keep the mercury at the proper amalgamatin g temperature in theamalgamating-boxes by means of steam or hot water circulating throughthe steam-jacket j, the temperature being indicated by the thermometer70. In the absence of mercury I use an amalgamating alloy composed oflead, about nine to ten parts; tin, five to six parts; mercury, four tolive parts, by weight. In this case the ore must be used dry and heatedbefore passing through this amalgamatiug alloy.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an amalgamating apparatus, the combination of a box, 0, providedwith deflectors and containing mercury, and connected with anore-supply, a secondary box, IE, containinga series of corrugatedplates, G, and connected at one end with the upper portion of .the

mercury-box by a pipe, f, a liquid trap or washer, H, connected by apipe, g, with the other end of said secondary box, and an exhaustmechanism, I, connected with the liquid trap or washer for drawing theore through said boxes and liquid trap, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In an amalgamating apparatus, the combination, with an amalgamatin gboxor boxes provided with deflectors, connected by a suitable passagewith an ore-supply, of a liquid trap or washer connected by a suitablepipe or pipes with the amalgamating box or boxes, an .exhaust mechanism,I, connected with the said trap or washer by a pipe leading from theupper portion thereof, and a washer, J, connected with the discharge ofthe said exhaust mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 9th day of October, 1879.

JOHN ABSTERDAM. [L. s.]

Witnesses E. F. KASTENHUBER, J. HERMANN 'WAHLERS.

